Is Covenant University's chancellor abusing his position as a Man of God?

According to Punch, the students were suspended for not attending the school's Easter Youth Alive programme.

These students and their parents are claiming that there is nothing in the school's rules that state that it is compulsory to attend these events.

A 400-level student said:“We were going for the services in the morning and night and people were getting tired of it because we were also preparing for exams. So, the Vice- Chancellor got angry and ordered that those who missed the services be sanctioned.

"Some were suspended for four weeks and those who had missed eight services for the four days got a year.”

Another 300-level student said:“The mood in school is really tense. Though students are not protesting but they are angry because you are preparing for an exam you’re not sure you will sit for, until the paper starts.

“They stopped me from sitting for a paper last week because I did not go for a service and I don’t know if I will be allowed in today either.”

So, do the students have any right to complain or does the school have the right to suspend the students for not attending a church programme?

As most people know, Covenant University is a school run by World Mission Agency (WMA), a Christian mission organization, which is an arm of Living Faith Church World Wide, also known as Winner's Chapel.

This makes it a Christian school with core values like spirituality and responsibility. In fact, the school's website says that 'students are not permitted to do what they like but they are compel to do what is right at all times.'

As a church-owned school, I think it is expected that students should attend the school's church programmes and face the consequences, if they refuse.

However, the suspended students and their parents are claiming that there is nothing in the school's rules that state that it is compulsory to attend these events.

So, who is at fault here? The students for not attending or the school for trying to enforce the church's religious obligations on it's students?

Meanwhile, the school's chancellor, Bishop Oyedepo has warned people to stop criticising the school's fees, allegedly N799,500 per session for 100 level students or face the wrath of God.

He said,"The school fees has Gods approval and is in accordance with the quality of facilities provided by the university in meeting the educational needs of the nation.”

ALSO READ: 'Winners Chapel-owned Covenant University's high fees do not have God's approval', 72% readers say

He got seriously criticised for saying this.

Is Bishop Oyedepo abusing his position as a Man of God by punishing CU students for not attending a church programme?